Pretty In Pink - My Komen 3-Day Experience

Balloon at the Opening Ceremony

Hello friends! I am back in Iowa and have had a couple days to recover from my Komen 3-Day journey...and to say it was another incredible event would be an understatement. I am proud to say I walked every single step of the sixty miles last weekend in Dallas, TX...and I have the badly blistered feet to prove it. Walking into the closing ceremony, hand in hand, with my fabulous Twinkle Toes team was an emotional experience, full of laughter, tears, cheers, a little pain, and a huge sense of achievement....there really are not words to describe it. The entire walk was AMAZING - my heart and legs were ready (another full year of training definitely paid off), and I was able to take in the Dallas/Fort Worth scenery that surrounded me. I promised myself that this year I would savor the experience more and take lots of photos, meet lots of people, and live in the moment....instead of racing though the days....and I definitely accomplished my goal! I did manage to get another set of "impressive" blisters and my first stop when getting back to Iowa was the doctor's office (you may have seen the photos floating around on Facebook of my blood soaked socks after day 3) - but don't worry - I am all good - I have pain medication, a round of antibiotics, and both my feet are completely taped up...and I am basically stuck in a chair for the next 10 days - BUT, it was worth the pain, as the funds we raised will help so many and make an impact in so many lives (so yes, it will be flip flops to my mother's wedding this weekend, as other shoes are not an option).  There were numerous memorable moments - in fact, WAY too many to list...so, I will share a plethora of captioned photos with you that will give you just a peek at my experience (you should be able to click on most of them for larger views)...

Opening ceremony - raising the memorial flag...as you can see from the insert,
I made sure to add Cathey's name (aka Pumpkin)...

My teammates are all smiles at the opening ceremony: (L-R) Lori, Sandy, Lois

The King and Queen cheered us on all three days!

The Pajama Party sweep van...

Sandy and Lois sitting on a hay bale at lunch on the first day...

Lori, Lois, and I crossing the finishing line into camp on day one...

Lois with her favorite flag - COMMITMENT - she carried this flag
on her two previous Komen 3-day events...

The angles that put up our tent on day one...

Camp

Dinner the first day...they fed us well again this year!

Friends we met along the way..

The firehouse just happened to be on our trail on day two - I couldn't
resist getting a photo...

A favorite motocrew member in one of his kilts, ready to help us cross a busy
street...

Another cheerleader...

Our favorite Jersey "potty girl" - we met her in San Diego last year...

A motivational sign on day two, just when we needed it...

More beautiful friends I met along the way...

Arriving at camp after another 20 miles on day two...

The start of day three - waiting for the buses in bitter cold - this was supposed to
 be a team photo, but we had a BAD photographer...
(L-R) a sliver of Sandy, Lois, me, Lori...

A favorite cheerleader that Lois and Sandy remember from Dallas 2012...

This adorable little girl was handing out pencils at a cheer station...

Superman was a wonderful cheerleader and a welcome sight every few blocks
on day three...

If you can't see Lori and I, we are behind the boobs (we're the short ones
in the middle)...

Lunch downtown on day three...

Another new specially made kilt on day three...

Loved this angel dog at the closing ceremony....

A sea of  1,150 walkers at the closing ceremony...

We honor the survivors...shoes up!

The raising of the final flag at closing ceremony: "WE WILL NEVER GIVE UP"

I actually took several videos this year...but this was my favorite...this was taken at towards the end of the closing ceremony...it's a celebration of the entire three day event...and it just goes to prove, after walking 60-miles in three days, no matter how sore or tired you are, you can still dance!

In closing, I will share the thank you note I e-mailed to everyone who made a donation...this sums it up...

My dear friends, family, and needlework enthusiasts,

A GIGANTIC heartfelt thank you for supporting me on my Komen 3-Day journey! It was an UNBELIEVABLE three days and I am extremely proud to report I walked every single step of the 60-miles. It was an AMAZING, challenging, fun, (at times) painful, and breathtaking experience...filled with memories that will definitely last a lifetime.

Because of your generosity, and the support of all of my donors and team members, I raised over $5.000 to help end breast cancer...our small, but mighty Team Twinkle Toes (four walkers) raised just shy of $20,000 for this important cause...and the Dallas event (1,150 walkers and 300 crew members) raised an OUTSTANDING $3,100,000! I cannot thank you enough for your support, love, and encouragement - I am so very touched by your generosity and kindness.

I also want to take a moment and express my sincere gratitude to those of you who made cash donations to our team captain for expenses, to those of you who sent care packages to me before the trip, and to those of you who sent sweet treats with notes to me in camp - you helped lighten the financial burden and truly enhanced my experience - I am forever grateful.

YOU made this INCREDIBLE journey possible and I thank YOU from the bottom of my heart. Together we ARE making a difference!

xoxo,

Belinda

Baby Twinkle Toes

Team Twinkle Toes is headed back to Dallas in 2015!

So now, life gets back to "normal" - I play catch-up...I work on my new designs...I answer correspondence...I fill orders...I tackle the HUGE "to do" list...I stay medicated and try to keep my feet elevated...and this entire weekend I will be in Illinois, attending my mother's wedding...then, in a few weeks I will get back to training for the 2015 Komen 3-Day in Dallas...it's all good!